The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-04-15

tween you and me, and putting good
fence on the lineP That's where II be- |
longs. The use Of that land Is worth |
something 10 US both"
Uncle Joe's lips closed for moment
very tightly. Then he replied:
Its good enough for me a. Il Isl"
Now, that meant great deal from
Uncle Joe. II meant that he had not
forgotten the strife Of almost half
century ago with ncighbor Freebooter.
and that he had no inclination now to
depart from the decision he had then
formed never 70 help build fence on
the line. Dick was not slow to see that
there was something back q the farm
er's remark. and he wisely said no
more about the lane.
But. as fate would have IL, the Legis-
lature Of the State about that time
happened to recognize the fact that
there were q number Of Devils lanes
inside its boundaries; and. appreciat-
ing the fact that they were but stand
ing monuments Of mans perversity,
some one introduced bill 10 do away
with them forever. In case the parties
in interest could not or would not
agree TO build joint fence, the trus-
tees Of the township were authorized to
locate the line, build fence upon 1t.
and charge the expense to the general
tax.
This, Dick knew. but his steady-go-
ing neighbor did not. So that when
some one happened to remark to Dick
| that it was about time the lane was
closed up. il set the young man to
thinking very earnestly.
Why should Uncle Joe persist so
| foolishly In maintaining that crop Of
| bushes and briars. His farm was
everywhere else model Of thrift.
After awhile he ventured to approach
Uncle Joe again on the subject and
told him. as the law then was, he
didn't see but the lane would have to
be done away with. But the old man
was immoyable. 1t passes all compre-
hension what an amount Of litigation
and neighborhood difficulty have
grown out OF 50 simple matter as the
construction Of lire fence. Men sens
ible in most matters have been made
enemies for life BY just such a thing a
that 1t Is my duty to Chronicle the
fact that. the more Dick thought about
II the more II aroused him. 1t was
downright mcanness on the old mans
part t. stand out in that way, accord
ing to Dicks opinion. Of course, he
was an old man now and full Of
whims: but he ought To listen to com
mon sense
| He finally talked il over with Bess
and. like the sensible girl she was. she
sought TO act rs mediator between
the two men. 1t was not the first time
a woman's heart has been crushed by
the cbstinacy Of two men. like wheat
by millstones. Uncle Joe finally told
Bess never to mention the thing t.
him again. The fence was all right a.
it was and should not be disturbed.
He had thought Dick Lamson "a pref
" square kind Of fellow" but If thai
was the way he was going to act. he
didn't want any thing more to do with
him; and. rs for Bess. she needn't
think she would ever get his consent
to marry such an out-and-out scoundrel
as he was
OF course that put the climax on the
trouble. Bess. with her lovely eyes
full Of tears. told her lover the old
mans decision. and Dicks teeth came
together hard rs he listened.
l SO il was war. was it? Well. II thai
was 50. he would see what the law
could do.
| In about ten days after that the trns
tees went out to the farms and very
gravely struggled through the tangled
lane and staked out the line. Their
they served notice on the two mer
that they must build good legal fence
there within thirty days. Uncle Jo'
grimly looked on, and remarked tina
he guessed he knew what the law was
and he'd try to live up to II.
Dick went At once to work and Gu
rails and drew them to the lane for thu
purpose Of building his part Of tn
fence. but Uncle Joe made no move il
that direction. He spent much Of hi
time in the neighborhood Of the lane
He carried his gun most Of the time
Now and then he brought home . rab
Bit for dinner. He had been. 50 he wa
fond Of saying. something Of huntc
} in his time. and even now was counties
, = good shot for man 81 his age.
II After Dick hai fIshed splitting
rails for the fence. he had sharpcnc'
. his axe, and, taking . good scyshc
went down to clear the ground 9
brushes and briars. He knew thi
, | would be no small task. but his arm
were strong and his will good. Hard
| " IN hour had he worked when a riil
I shot rang out on the air, md hi
strong right arm dropped to his side
painfuIly wounded. So severe was u;
} injury that he could do nothi1
toward discovering who fired the MIR
l derous shot. and he was alone Afc
} he had made his way TO the hou>r. q
| alarm was 0ivcn. and 4 crowd If me